Swords

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‘The Taj Mahal is but one of many jewels in India’s crown’ TRAVEL: P22 JUNE 14, 2012

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Month XX, 2012 SWORDS • BALBRIGGAN • APPLEWOOD • BOROIMHE • AIRSIDE • RIVERVALLEY

INSIDE: Gino D’Acampo serves up some hot stuff at the Pavilions Page 2

TIA’S TIME: Local plus-sized model jets off to Cape Town agency Page 6

A Presidential welcome: For the Olympic Torch Rugby: Local star assists Ireland to verge of World Cup Page 32

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins is pictured with his wife, Sabina, and Fingal mayor Gerry Maguire (Lab), as he officially welcomed the Olympic Torch to Howth, following its relay journey from Northern Ireland.

Although President Higgins didn’t carry the torch, himself, there was no shortage of volunteers, as Jedward, Kenny Egan, Paul McGrath, Sonia O’Sullivan, and many well-known figures bore the torch to the city centre.

Picture: Una Williams

Full Gallery on Pages 8-9

Soccer: Swords Celtic reflect on a superb season Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 BUSINESS .................... 19 MOTORS ........................21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

Council reforms save €16.5 million Cost efficiencies are attributed to Croke Park deal

I NATALIE BURKE

FINGAL County Council has achieved savings of €16.5 million since the signing of the Croke Park Agreement, according to Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell.

The council created the savings through restructuring

departments as well as changes in the flexibility of working practices to retain services while staff numbers have been significantly reduced.

“The saving of €16.5 million over a two-and-a-half year period without the need for involuntary staff cuts is a genuine example of the value

of the Croke Park Agreement to the delivery of public service reform,” he said.

Cost-saving mechanisms included reduced overtime expenditure on direct labour, non-filling of arising vacancies and cessation of temporary summer contracts.

Full Story on Page 6

2 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 June 2012

BUSINESS: LADIES DOING COOKING Gino D’Acampo wows with his culinary skills IT FOR THEMSELVES

Summer event lends help to female entrepreneurs I NATALIE BURKE news@gazettegroup.com

NETWORKING, marketing, social media and tapas were all on the agenda at the annual Fingal Women in Business Summer Social event, which took place in Swords this week.

The network is one of the biggest female business networks in Dublin and the event took place in the Gourmet Food Parlour, Swords, on Tuesday, June 12.

Two guest speakers made some inspiring presentations at the annual event, when they discussed their experiences of being members of the Fingal Women in Business Network and will give advice for success to their peers.

C l i o n a d h Two m e y Lynders of the awardw i n n i n g T h e Swe e t Treat Company, shared her insights on the area of marketing and branding on the night, while Shiera O’Brien of Zenith Training shared her top tips for social

media for small businesses.

The Summer Social also featured a tapas buffet and drinks reception, providing guests with the ideal opportunity to mingle and build new business contacts.

A c c o r d i n g t o Eve Bulman, network manager at Fingal Women in Business Network, events like this are “paramount” for women already established or considering setting up a small business in the Fingal area.

The Fingal Women in Business Network is a dynamic and inspirational network which supports existing and upcoming female entrepreneurs in the Fingal area.

Meeting on a monthly basis, their growing membership includes entrepreneurs from all industries and disciplines (professionals, artists, craftspeople) and provides a forum for sharing, developing relationships, learning and socialising.

Claudine Hanks and Cathy Pots

Deirdre King with Gino D’Acampo Pictures: Una Williams

D’Acampo enlisted members of the audience to help out

Hot and fresh from the kitchen C ELEBRITY chef Gino D’Acampo was in the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords this past weekend. The lively Italian was there for a book signing, a culinary demonstration, and a competition to win a Zanussi washing machine.

D’Acampo is an accomplished food writer with five books to his name. He also hosts his own cookery program on English radio, stars in several daytime television shows on ITV and was the 2009 winner of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.

D’Acampo, along with Mary Curtin , tests out the pasta to be certain it is cooked properly

D’Acampo with Joshua Karabegovic Things steam up in the kitchen when Helen Keane Wilson shows up

D’Acampo makes sure Ashling O’Connor is alright

Susan Clarke and Katie Smith

D’Acampo had fun cooking as well as everything else

14 June 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 3

LAUNCH Second smoke-free play area for Fingal

Non-smoking initiative catches on I NATALIE BURKE news@gazettegroup.com

FINGAL’S second tobacco free public playground was launched by Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Gerry McGuire (Lab), last week, at a special ceremony held at Rivermeade, near Swords. The mayor announced a countywide proposal at the event, which was attended by a large number of local schoolchildren as well as representatives from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Tobacco Free Research Institute.

The smoke-free playground initiative was first piloted in Fingal in early 2010 at Millennium play-

ground, Blanchardstown, through a partnership between the council, the HSE Dublin North East, Connolly Hospital and the Tobacco Free Research Institute. The primary aim of the playground initiative is to discourage people from smoking in a children’s environment, to de-normalise tobacco use and reduce cigarette litter.

According to Mayor Gerry McGuire, Fingal County Council has provided many play and fitness facilities across Fingal and the introduction of the tobacco free playground represents the council’s commitment to build on many health

promotion initiatives and to target smoking specifically.

“The smoke free playground at Millenium Park in Blanchardstown has proven to be a success so far and we all agree that passive smoking can be dangerous to health and particularly to children. It has wide support among both non smokers and smokers as well and I think it’s good that we can prevent smoking around where our children are involved. I think it is an excellent idea,” he said.

Cllr McGuire believes that having programmes in place, such as the tobacco-free playgrounds, can play a role in prevent-

CHILDCARE

Over €9k for two nurseries news@gazettegroup.com

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Gerry McGuire (Lab) with Dr Nazih Eldin, head of health promotion HSE Dublin North East, and students of Rivermeade NS

ing children taking up smoking at a young age.

“When you look at where we have introduced a number of different school programmes, such as the Green Flags programme, children growing up nowadays are much more intuitively aware of the environment and that is part of getting them to be intuitively

aware of their health as well. So with a long term effect, they will be healthier children with regard to smoking as well.”

Fingal County Council now proposes to make all of the county’s public playgrounds smoke-free and is currently undertaking public consultation to promote the idea and to gain public sup-

port. Anyone who wishes to make a submission on the countywide smokefree playground initiative can do so in writing to Ciara Monahan, Parks Division, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Swords, Co Dublin or can send an email to ciara. monahan@fingalcoco.ie on or before 4pm on Friday, June 22, 2012.

FUNDING of €9,500 has been announced for two pre-schools in the Fingal area and both were welcomed by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, this week.

A grant of €5,492 has been awarded to Happy Puddleducks Childcare in Swords while a further grant of €4,000 has been approved for the Home-Start Creche in Clonsilla. The grant is capital funding, which can be spent on upgrading existing facilities and a total of 290 childcare facilities nationwide have received funding under this scheme.

According to Minister Varadkar: “This funding is another example of how the limited resources available in these difficult times can be put to good use, in a way that brings benefits to our families.”

4 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 June 2012

14 June 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 5

VANDALISM

CHARITY: FAMILY WALK TO FUND LOCAL WOMAN’S 10-DAY DESERT CHALLENGE

Road sign damage ‘thuggery’

Walking back to happiness

I NATALIE BURKE nburke@gazettegroup.com

A LOCAL woman is set to take part in a Trek4Life’ this June and is calling on members of the Malahide and Swords community to help raise much needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society later this month.

Mary Carr has joined the Irish Cancer Society’s charity Trek4Life team to Jordan and in an effort to raise funds for the great cause, has organised an official Family Walk along Broadmeadows Estuary, due to take place this Sunday, June 17, at 3pm.

The Trek4Life is a positive programme for individuals who want to reduce their risk of developing cancer through exercise, healthy eating and positive lifestyle deci-

sions and the challenge is an enormous one. The 10-day walk in Jordan will take Mary and the rest of her team from the shores of the Dead Sea deep into the desert, an adventure Mary is both excited and apprehensive about.

“It’s a great experience and we will come across all sorts of people but I’m slightly apprehensive as well because of the heat and the walking.

“We’re also staying three nights in Bedouin tents and I’ve never camped in my life. But overall, I’m really looking forward to it.”

This year’s Trek4Life will be the second trip Mary has taken with the charity, after walking the Great Wall of China last year in honour of her late husband.

“I took part because my husband died of can-

cer and it was his 10th anniversary. It was also my 50th birthday and I wanted to do something to mark both of them so it was very appropriate. I never thought I would do another one.”

The family walk along Broadmeadows Estuary begins at 3pm on the day of the event and those wishing to participate can meet at Swords Sailing and Boating Club.

Free refreshments and face painting will be available in the club house following the walk, making it a great family day out.

Registration is from 2pm and sponsorship cards are available or donations can be made on the day.

For more information or if you’re interested in taking part, contact Mary on 086 8400273.

Piece of cake: It’s a chilled first birthday for local insurance store STAFF and customers alike enjoyed the celebratory mood in the

Chill Insurance store in the Swords Pavilions shopping centre store over the weekend.

Store manager Carl Stewart, retail marketing manager Fergal Lynch and Swords Pavilions managing director Ian Hunt are pictured above with a chocolate birthday cake marking the retail outlet’s first year at the shopping centre.

Lynch said: “By bringing our service to busy shopping centres, we are creating local jobs and supporting local people as we increase our market share and deliver money-saving value.”

THE people who were responsible for vandalising road traffic signs within the Highfields area earlier this week, have been condemned by local Fianna Fail Councillor Darragh Butler who described them as “thugs”.

The road signs were vandalised in Swords on the evening of Ireland’s loss to Croatia in the Euro 2012.

According to Cllr Butler, three signs were “ripped out of the ground” which he believes would require a number of people and some considerable effort.

“This sort of drunken thuggery must be condemned and I can only hope that they were massively ashamed of their actions when they awoke the following morning,” he said. “I would like to applaud Fingal County Council who had the signs back in place the following day.”

6 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 June 2012

RETAIL

Four win shopping sweep FOUR local Swords shoppers were treated to a trolley dash this week when they took part in a Supermarket Sweep at the recently opened Lidl store in Swords.

The lucky shoppers won the chance to take part in the three-minute shopping competition when their names were chosen from a draw, after they spent €50 in the new store during the first few days of opening.

Derek Fitzpatrick, Tracy Thompson, Alasdair Carwood and Don Ramel were the lucky four to take part in the competition.

According to Aoife Clarke, a spokesperson for Lidl Ireland, the store wanted a unique way to celebrate its opening.

“What better than a trolley dash where our shoppers could take away some great shopping for free.

“We would like to congratulate the winners and thank all the local shoppers for their support and well wishes during our opening phase.”

PEOPLE Beauty signed up by modelling agency

Model Tia jets off for dream job - no weight loss needed I NATALIE BURKE

nburke@gazettegroup.com

LOCAL beauty Tia Duffy is set to swap her Swords home for the shores of South Africa later this year, after being signed as a plus-sized model by a popular Cape Town modelling agency.

The curvy brunette, who hails from Oaklands Avenue in Swords, is already signed as a model with Irish agency Assets, but is preparing to spread her wings after landing a dream job with D&A modelling agency in South Africa.

The 24-year-old model, who is also a qualified teacher, is excited about the adventure ahead and despite entering beauty pageants as a teenager, only entered the modelling world a couple of years ago.

“I’ve always been a size 12 to 14 and would go in between the two so

when I saw a competition for Simply Be on TV3, I had to go for it. While I didn’t come anywhere in the competition, it gave me the confidence to go in to agencies and everything just went great from there.”

While other models might feel pressure to lose weight, Tia says she also feels pressure but one of a different kind.

“I actually feel a lot of pressure to maintain my weight and I can’t lose any because the clients who are booking me for being curvy would notice it straight away.”

“I’m very fit and I jog a lot but I always have to make sure I don’t lose any extra weight. Sometimes I’m so busy I wouldn’t eat properly and I’d drop a couple of pounds but that’s noticed in clothes so it’s a totally different type of pressure.”

Modelling wasn’t the only goal for Tia, who

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Tia Duffy, from Swords, is moving to South Africa as a plus-sized model. Picture: Darren Kinsella

studied teaching for five years. However, with a lack of full-time employment available, she reconsidered her career when modelling opportunities began to present themselves.

“I have a huge passion for teaching and modelling would always come second to that but if modelling presented itself as a bigger opportunity, then I would consider it full-time.

“I don’t think you get the opportunity more than once in your lifetime to say you modelled full-time but having the

-----------------------------------------

‘I actually feel a lot of pressure to maintain my weight and I can’t lose any because clients who are booking me for being curvy would notice’ ----------------------------------------teaching qualification behind me is great.

“If I ever did have to

move to another country, teaching is a qualification you can bring with you anywhere.”

“Ireland is so small that if you don’t make the effort yourself to actually model internationally, you will be in Ireland forever but I’d see the bigger thing.

“Especially being a curvy model, I think I need to be promoted more.”

Tia will jet off to Cape Town in October for two months and if she manages to build a client base, her next stop could be New York.

“It’s so exciting but it will be difficult to leave my family and friends. I know I’d find it hard. I have a boyfriend and he’s going to follow me over to South Africa. It’s great to have the support from them.”

When it comes to modelling on the Irish catwalk scene, Tia says her dark colouring helps make her stand out in the industry.

“People say I look foreign, but I’m not, I’m Irish. I just have sallow skin and I think in Ireland, it’s a different look.”

Council saves €16.5 million I NATALIE BURKE

nburke@gazettegroup.com

FINGAL County Council has achieved savings of €16.5 million since the signing of the Croke Park Agreement, according to Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell.

He was commenting on a report issued by Impact union groups, which published savings made by the local Government agency from March 2009 until October 2011.

According to the TD, the council created the savings through the restructuring of various departments, as well as changes in the

flexibility of working practices to retain services while staff numbers have been significantly reduced.

“The saving of €16.5 million over a two-and-a-half year period without the need for involuntary staff cuts is a genuine example of the value of the Croke Park Agreement to the delivery of public service reform,” he said.

“I commend the management, and particularly the staff of the council for the successful prioritisation and implementation of reform measures within this time frame.”

Some cost-saving mechanisms adopted by the council included

the reconfiguration of recycling centre operations, reduced overtime expenditure on direct labour, non-filling of arising vacancies, the cessation of temporary summer contracts and the reduction in consultancy and professional fees.

He said that he expected further amalgamations within Fingal County Council, as well as forthcoming reform of local government agencies nationwide in conjunction with the Croke Park Agreement, would continue to yield further savings for the tax payer and create a more efficient means of providing local services.”

SWORDS GAZETTE 14 June 2012 7

COURT Trinity academic threw drunken man down 15-foot drop

Lecturer avoids six-year jail term A TRINITY College lecturer has been given a suspended sentence for throwing a man down a 15-foot drop, causing him severe head injuries.

John Whipple (35) claimed he attacked the victim because he had urinated on his shoes.

When an onlooker asked him why he had thrown the man over the wall, W hipple replied by shrugging his shoulders.

His victim was left with a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and facial palsy. He spent two months in hospital and was unable to close his eyes or hear for six months.

Whipple of Ashley Avenue, Swords, but originally from America, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to causing serious harm to

John Kennedy at Lower Abbey Street on February 11, 2011.

Judge Martin Nolan said it was unfortunate that there was a 15-foot drop behind the railings. He accepted that Whipple probably did not realise how substantial the fall was but did know there was at least an 8-foot drop behind the railing.

“It seems that it is unlikely that he intended to cause the injuries he had but if he had thought about it, he would have realised what he did would cause the victim serious injury,” Judge Nolan said. “He acted in the absence of judgement but does not deserve a custodial.”

He sentenced him to six years in prison which he suspended entirely on

the condition that he pay over €10,000 to the victim within a week.

Garda James K ing told prosecuting counsel Elva Duffy BL that Kennedy was seen in the area stumbling around in a seemly drunken state.

Whipple, who was studying for a masters degree at the time, was waiting for the bus home on Abbey Street.

Kennedy was seen on CCTV approaching Whipple and another man and after some interaction, Whipple grabbed him by the groin and the neck and threw him over a railing. On the other side of the railing, there was a 15-foot drop onto a concrete floor. Kennedy hit the ground and lay in a pool of blood until gardai and an ambulance arrived.

When someone asked Whipple why he threw the man, Whipple responded: “He pissed on my shoes and I’m sick of it.”

When gardai arrived, he admitted he did it. He later went to the Garda station. He claimed he didn’t want to hurt the man and didn’t realise how far the drop was on the other side of the railing. He apologised and said that he hoped Mr Kennedy was all right.

Mr Kennedy’s other injuries included a broken pelvis and facial nerve damage for which he required plastic surgery. He spent four weeks in hospital but then contracted bacterial meningitis there.

Whipple now works as a lecturer in Trinity and is John Whipple was given a suspended sentence at the married with one child.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

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COURT Family of murdered girl face accused THE grieving family of Irish woman Avril Flanagan came face-to-face with the man accused of her murder this week, for the first time since her brutal death three years ago.

Twenty-year old Avril, originally from Swords, was living and working in Spain at the time of her death.

Liverpool native Alan Daulby (26), who faces up to 20 years in jail if he is convicted of murdering ex-girlfriend Avril, broke his silence for the first time in a Spanish court this week.

Daulby has been held on remand in Spain since May 2009. The killing is believed to have taken place after Avril ended their relationship.

Avril moved to the Costa Blanca region in Spain from Swords with her family in 2006.

8 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 June 2012

SPORT President Michael D Higgins welcomes the Olympic

Students from Oliver Plunkett’s School Malahide

President Michael D Higgins and Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey at the arrival of the Olympic Torch at Howth. Pictures: Una Williams

Sophie O’Sullivan and Sean McGregor at the run

Eugene O’Leary on his special fundraising

Eileen Geaney and

bicycle

Miriam O’ Callaghan

Cillian Kirwan was the first to carry the torch

Flame lights up the day in Howth OR once, President Michael D Higgins was, arguably, not the main attraction at an event, when he officially welcomed the Olympic Torch to Howth, following its relay journey down from Northern Ireland.

Joining the Olympic Council, and several leading Irish sports stars and figures, President Higgins formally welcomed the torch to the capital, as it further fanned the flames of inter-

F

est in the imminent Games.

Although President Higgins didn’t jog off under the rain with the torch, there was no shortage of volunteers, as the likes of Jedward, Kenny Egan, Paul McGrath and, of course, Sonia O’Sullivan, and many more well-known figures, carried the torch on its inbound journey to the city centre, and a celebation at St Stephen’s Green.

14 June 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 9

Torch to Howth, signalling the start of its visit to the city

Members of the Dublin All Stars Marching Band

Dermot Sherlock, general secretary, Olympic Council; President Higgins; his wife, Sabina; and Fingal Mayor Gerry Maguire (Lab)

Katie O’Rouke, Laura Garbutt and Emily O’Loughlin

Marching bands and dance troupes mark the arrival of the torch

Fingal Mayor Gerry McGuire (Lab) and Sonia O’Sullivan

Dermot Sherlock, Dermot Henihan and Bobby Begley

Pupils from the Old Burrow School

Rugby star Shane Byrne with twins Victoria and Isabelle O’Connor

10 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 June 2012

OLYMPICS Dublin gets its eager hands on the Olympic torch

Kenneth Egan with the torch and his cheerleaders

Paul McGrath holds up traffic and the torch

Niamh Reid Burke with her parents and brother

We didn’t start the fire. Niamh Reid Burke with Alva Nolan Pictures: Fergus McNally and Andreas Poveda

Carrying the flame LYMPIC fever gripped Ireland (and in particular, Dublin) as the official torch relay took place on June 6. Dublin boxer Michael Carruth received the torch from fellow boxer, Olympian and medal winner, Wayne McCullough at the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

From there it travelled by bus to the

O

capital where it was formally received by the President, Michael D Higgins.

From here the relay really took off. Carried by the likes of Paul McGrath, Kenny Egan, Jedward, Sonia O’Sullivan, Niamh Reid Burke and many more, it truly was a memorable occasion that culminated in a celebration event in St Stephen’s Green.

Niamh Reid Burke and Kenneth Egan

Michael Carruth

14 June 2012 GAZETTE 11

12 GAZETTE 14 June 2012

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TV and radio personality, Hector O hEochagain (left) and legendary GAA and sports broadcaster Micheal O Muircheartaigh launch the Calor Community Champion 2012

Searching for heroes THE search is now on to find local champions across Dublin who work tirelessly each and every day to improve the lives of the people around them.

Calor, Ireland’s leading supplier of rural energy solutions, has launched their inaugural Calor Community Champion 2012.

Calor believe it is time that these people were recognised and celebrated, and have set aside a prize fund of €10,000 to do this.

The search for local unsung heroes will be led by TV and radio personality, Hector O hEochagain.

This summer, Hector and the team at Calor are looking for your help to choose the Calor Community Champion 2012.

To enter and nominate your local Dublin hero, all you need to do is “like” the Calor Facebook page, once you become a “fan” you can enter the Community Champion app.

Then, just provide the name of your nominee, contact details and in 250 words why you think they deserve to win.

Dublin SPCA special information day THE Dublin SPCA is encouraging all animal lovers to go along to a special information day of all things pet-like on Saturday, June 16.

The fabulous Miss June Rodgers (panto star) is making a special guest appearance on the day.

She is hoping to help raise the charity’s profile and promote awareness of animal welfare and owner responsibility.

Families will be spoiled for choice of entertainment on the day with a diverse variety of enjoyable activities, demonstrations, food stalls, face painting, body art and bouncy castles.

DIARY There will be doggy style fashion, artwork, pet photography and grooming products for the fussiest pooch and owner.

If you’re interested in going along to the event, then head down to the SPCA Animal Welfare Charity, Mount Venus Road Campus, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 on Saturday June 16, between 12pm and 4pm Contact Miriam Kerins, PR, Dublin SPCA for more information on 01-4994710 or 0867900894. .

A cornucopia of Irish food on the way TASTE of Dublin 2012 is on from June 14 to17 in Iveagh Gardens in Dublin and it promises to offer a cornucopia of Irish food from some of the bestknown chefs from Ireland and abroad.

Launching the festival this year will be Jamie Oliver who is due to open a restaurant in Dundrum this year.

He said: “Taste of Dublin is a fabulous platform for showcasing the best in Irish produce and cuisine and I can’t wait to kick off the summer in true Irish style at Taste of Dublin this June” Electrolux Ireland is sponsoring Taste of Ireland and visitors will be spoilt for choice with wine tastings and food samplings and workshops galore from over 100 industry experts.

Irish talent includes Rachel Allen, Clodagh McKenna and Neven Maguire.

Tickets are on sale now at www.tasteofdublin.ie or you can call 0818 30 00 30. Prices range from €20 (plus booking fee).

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SAILING A host of nautical activities to enjoy

Get on the water for the weekend SAIL Spree, which takes place on June 23 and 24, was officially launched last week by the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) and TV presenter, Kathryn Thomas in Dun Laoghaire harbour.

It is a new, weekendlong initiative, designed to get people out on the water to enjoy water sports of all kinds.

At the launch, she enjoyed a small boat trip with three young sailors from the Irish National Sailing School.

The weekend’s activities take in all areas around the Dublin coast, from Sutton to Dun Laoghaire, so there is bound to be something nautical happening near you.

It kicks off on Saturday, June 23, at the Sutton Dinghy Club which will run a sponsored sail down Sutton Creek and back to their club headquarters.

A barbecue will also be available to the participants following the event as well as music and prizes.

The Sutton Dinghy club will also run an Access Sailing evening on Tuesday June 26 to follow on from the weekend.

This event is focused on those with disabilities and is intended to open them up to how accessible water sport fun can be for them.

Rush Sailing Club will get involved on Saturday 23 also as it is running On the Water which are taster sessions for the novice in a choice of yachts, dinghies and power boats.

More taster sessions are organised for Malahide Yacht Club which will run a two-day event during the spree weekend and will lay on entertainment in the form of music and games for all.

Malahide Yacht Club’s junior sailing section is very strong and the club also boasts two sailors, David Burrows and Scott Flanigan, who are bound for the London Olympics next month.

On the southside of Dublin, Dun Laoghaire Harbour will be running spree events such as taster sessions with the Irish National Sailing School on Saturday, June 23.

Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club is running a two-day event for the weekend and will open at 11am and close at 8pm to allow people to relax in the bar and take part in their games and activities or trips in a motor boat

Kathryn Thomas fights to keep her balance

which will be free.

The Royal St George Yacht Club will also be providing, “On the Water” taster sessions on both Saturday and Sunday.

The club regularly holds national and international competitions such as Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth World Championships this July.

For Sail Spree they will offer sailing and power boating taster sessions as well as providing onshore activities, food, drink, music and entertainment from their clubhouse overlooking the marina.

Dun Laoghaire Powerboat School will give you the chance to try the excitement of power boating in the safe, calm waters of the harbour on Sunday, June 24.

The National Yacht Club’s Sail Spree event will happen a bit later on the evening of Wednesday, June 27.

Sailing taster sessions will be offered from their clubhouse at Dun Laoghaire harbour and food and drink dispensed later.

To book your place or find out more about Sail Spree events in your area you can check it out online at www.sailspree.ie.

M

I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

Turning heads: Citroen hit it out of the park with the DS5 TV presenter Kathryn Thomas in Dun Laoghaire harbour

MOTORING PAGE 21

14 GAZETTE 14 June 2012

BUSINESS: ENTERPRISE BOARD’S TOP TIPS WHEN MEETING NEW CONTACTS

Networking can pay off

SOME top tips for networking were issued by the Fingal County Enterprise Board (CEB) to more than 100 business owners and managers gathered at the Kettles Country House Hotel in Swords last week.

The board focused on using networking skills to increase and build company sales.

With opportunities for networking today more than ever before, the Fingal CEB is encouraging all small businesses to seek more opportunities for their businesses, and have issued advice for entrepreneurs on the Golden Rules of Effective Networking.

The board suggests small companies move networking to the top of their list of priorities, and to take time to attend the many events held across the country on a regular basis.

While they are often geared specifically at new start-ups and the small-business owner,

they can provide a great introduction to help new and fledgling businesses to hone their networking skills.

Before attending a business evening, the board recommends researching the people who will be attending – in particular, competitors, customers and suppliers.

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‘Ask the right questions and focus on the right people’

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Attendees should prioritise the people that they want to meet, and find the moment to introduce themselves, as well as making sure they can easily communicate what they do, and their key selling points enthusiastically.

While there are certain considerations to take into account when attending a networking event, there are common

mistakes the board recommends attendees to do their best to avoid.

Building a personal relationship is extremely important, and it’s easy to miss opportunities by chatting about social topics.

Remember to ask the right questions and to be prepared to focus on the right people. If someone is clearly wasting time, find an excuse and politely move on.

Effective networking is not about ensuring attendees give equal time to everyone at a business function – it is far more effective to focus on those they feel will be a useful contact, or who will help the attendee or their business.

Following a networking event, always follow-up the valuable contacts that are made, and as quickly as possible after an event.

Send an email or make a call to such new contacts within a couple of days, to keep both businesses on the radar.

PRODUCE You’re growing to love

Highly praise MICHAEL KELLY has some seasonal advice to get the best of summer growing THERE are some vegetables that you grow yourself and you really wonder whether it’s worth the hassle, particularly if there are good commercial alternatives available.

However, given the fact that most of the tomatoes in our supermarkets are the super-bland, all-yearround Dutch variety, and taste of – well, nothing at all – having a good crop of your own tomatoes is really one of the most rewarding things you can do.

Tomatoes that you grow yourself taste a million times nicer than anything you will buy in the supermarket – period.

This is because the overwhelming majority of commercial tomatoes are grown for superficial uniformity and shelf-life, rather than flavour.

You are more likely to eat your own tomatoes, as you would an apple, rather than slice ’em up and put them in a sandwich.

They are a sweet, sumptuous treat, best eaten warm and freshly picked.

I like being in touch with the seasonality of tomatoes, though it is a bitter-sweet affair given how short the season is –

tomatoes are basically in season for just a quarter of the year, or four short months.

Ours are starting to ripen, now, and they will go on producing hopefully into late October, and then they will be no more, and we will shed a tear.

We try to extend their season a little by getting the first seeds going on a warming mat in early spring at one end, and by preserving the produce at the other end (by storing, bottling, freezing etc).

If you want to really embrace seasonal food consumption, you could do worse than starting with the tomato.

Grow as many plants as your space will allow – nurture them, harvest, eat and store.

Enjoy them fresh, from July until October, and then in the winter enjoy your own “processed” tomatoes too, in whatever form you have converted them in to – then give yourself a break from them.

They are not in season, so don’t be tempted to buy them.

When you have sampled the delectable taste of your own tomatoes, I promise you that you won’t find this hard.

Speaking of tomatoes, here’s a real date for the diary.

On Sunday, September 2, Fingal Gardener’s Group and GIY Naul are holding an event – Totally Terrific Tomatoes – celebrating all things tomato.

It takes place at Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Co Dublin from 12 noon until 5pm.

For further information, see www.nickykylegardening.com.

Things to do this month To do: Any ground that has finished cropping must be quickly cleared away to take more vegetables. Use your produce – eat it, freeze it, process it, exchange it, give it away.

Continue to water and feed plants, and practise good weed control. Earth up brassicas such as Brussels sprouts – these plants will grow tall and require a good deal of support.

Net plants to keep butterflies and the cabbage moth away.

Cut dow n legume plants that have finished cropping – leave the roots in the soil, as they fix nitrogen in the soil. Give pumpkins plenty of water and apply a high-potash liquid feed.

Sow: Continue successional sowings and use quick maturing varieties for autumn use – Swiss chard, lettuce, rocket, salad onions, radish, turnips, peas, French Beans (dwarf), carrots.

Sow for winter use – spring cabbage, Hungry Gap kale, parsley, perpetual spinach, chicory and coriander.

Plant strawberries now for a good crop next June.

Propagate rosemary, sage and mint from cuttings now.

Har vest: July and August are peak months for produce – enjoy it!

When there are hundreds when you could so easily

First crops of French and runner beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, courgette and aubergine, marrows, beetroot, globe artichokes.

Continue to harvest new potatoes, calabrese, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, carrots, turnips, shallots, garlic, radish, spring onions, salad crops, strawberries, raspberries, tayberries, currents (black, red and white), gooseberries, loganberries, peas, broad beans.

Ask yourself – do you really need to go to the supermarket?!

Tip of the month Make use of your grass cuttings. Here’s how to make great compost, using two great wastecreators in the home and garden – newspapers and grass cuttings.

Build an open heap of alternating 10-inch layers of crumpled newspaper and grass cuttings.

Allow to get quite tall – four to fix feet – and then leave to rot down for a year.

Michael Kelly is a freelance

journalist, author and founder of GIY Ireland

14 June 2012 GAZETTE 15

these top tips for getting some gardening glory

the humble tomato Recipe of the Month: Green Tomato Chutney FAR from being a waste, the tomatoes that don’t ripen can be one of the most important assets you will get from your veg patch this year.

The beauty of this recipe is its exclusivity – because you can’t buy the primary ingredient (green tomatoes) in the shops, it can really only be made by a GIYer.

of varieties of tomatoes, why settle for the bland, uniform variety in supermarkets grow your own delicious tomatoes, full of flavour?

Ingredients: • 3kg green tomatoes • Six large onions (about 1kg) • Three or four large green peppers • 700g brown sugar • 1.2 litres of vinegar • Spices: Three tbs mustard seed; one tbs coriander seed; one-half teaspoon celery seed; one teaspoon turmeric

Instructions Chop the onions and slice the tomatoes finely. Layer them in a very large bowl – ie, start with onions, then tomatoes, then onions etc, seasoning each layer with plenty of salt and a little pepper as you go.

Leave it to stand for a day or so, then drain off the liquid and transfer the veg to a large stock pot.

Add the rest of the ingredients (sugar, vinegar, spices), bring the whole thing to a boil, and let it simmer on a low heat for two or three hours.

Put it back in to the bowl and let it sit for another day.

Put it back in the stock pot and cook it for another half hour so that

the liquid reduces down further – you want just enough liquid to cover the vegetables when they are transferred in to pots.

Sterilise some jam jars and ladle the chutney in to them. Don’t be tempted to eat any for about a month – it’s like a fine wine, and will get better with age.

FESTIVAL

A day for Brazilian culture WITH an estimated 30,000 Brazilians in Ireland, and more coming, now is a fitting time to welcome Dublin’s first Brazil Day. The first official Brazil Day Dublin will take place on Sunday, June 17 in Dtwo Bar, garden and club on Harcourt Street, beginning at 3pm, and running til late.

It is a celebration of all things Brazilian, starting with a performance from a traditional capoeira group, followed up by a Brazilian band, Pagode Fora De Casa.

There will also be traditional Samba Brazilian dancers, DJs, and traditional Brazilian BBQ and food, all adding to the authenticity of the day.

T he night will be capped off by the famous Carlao and Fabiano Sertaneja band, which will just be returning from Paris after supporting Michel Telo.

16 GAZETTE 14 June 2012

GazetteSTYLE STYLE Great gifts for your dad Edited by Laura Webb

CHECK ON YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE BLOOD pressure is essential for us all to survive – without it, our blood vessels would collapse.

Hypertension, on the other hand, refers to blood pressure above a defined safe limit.

This condition forces the heart to work harder, and it is the single most important risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Because hypertension generally has no symptoms, it is essential that you attend your doctor or local pharmacy to get your blood pressure checked regularly.

With thanks to the staff at Lucan Village Pharmacy

AVE the date, ever yone – it’s Father’s Day this Sunday, June 17, and Gazette Style is making sure dads across Dublin get the gifts they have longed for.

From simple gifts to unique one-offs, this year is going to be a cracker for giving. We all know that mothers love, love, love to get pampered, but who says fathers don’t want that, too?

Dunboyne Castle Hotel has answered fathers’ calls, and are offering a Pamper Papa treat from their spa, Seoid.

More and more men are looking for good skincare and want to look after themselves.

The Seoid spa has two great offers available for

S

the week of Father’s Day. Dad’s Treat includes a 45-minute Voya Facial to detoxify the skin and brighten a dull, lifeless complexion; a 15-minute head and shoulder massage to relieve any tension in the neck and shoulders, and a 20-minute Dry Floatation (which is the equivalent of three hour’s sleep), all for €75.

The second special for Father’s Day – Father’s Me Time – includes a back, neck and shoulder massage, and a 20-minute Dry Floatation, for only €45. For further details on these offers, see www. dunboynecastlehotel. com.

Get dad started on a great skin care routine, and a good place to start is with Vichy’s Homme

Hydra Mag C+ (50ml for €18.50), which is a two-in-one hydrating care product that fights the signs of fatigue and reduces under-eye bags and dark circles.

This is also complemented with Vichy Homme Soap-Free Shaving Foam, which has a neutral PH, and glycerine for hydration.

It is formulated to protect from tightness, dryness and irritations, and is suitable for sensitive skin.

Meanwhile, we also all know how men are tuning into their fashion senses more than ever before, and are paying more attention to how they look.

We had a quick look at Marks and Spen-

cer’s (M&S) to see what clothes would go down a treat this Father’s Day. See our selection of M&S images to get some inspiration for Father’s Day looks, this year.

Why not go even bigger than usual this year and get dad a membership for their favourite football, GAA or rugby team?

That way you know they will have a great season, no matter the score!

Another great gift for rocking dads – or just to help them relive their youth – is by getting them a ticket to a festival.

Electric Picnic is definitely one for all ages, and is a great family affair.

Whatever you decide to get, make sure you pamper your dad, because they’re worth it, too.

Marks and Spencer have plenty of clothes to get dad looking dapper, such as a Blue Harbour polo shirt (€27), a smart leather belt (€35), four-pack of Collezione socks (€16)

14 June 2012 GAZETTE 17

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: FAMILIES MAY NOT ALWAYS CHOOSE THE BEST ANIMAL FOR THEIR NEEDS

Your pet deserves to have the right owner to love it OST parents at some stage during their child’s early years will be asked the question: “Mum (or dad), can I please have a dog?

I promise I’ll look after him, walk him, feed him and clean up his poo.”

Yeah, right – hands up how many of us have fallen for that one? I have!

Our eldest dog, Sophie, was adopted from a shelter when she was six weeks old.We got her for our youngest child, who was then two.

Sophie is now going on 18 and the child, now an adult, has shown lots of interest over the years by loving, cuddling, nurturing and socialising with the animal, but has she ever once walked her (err,no), fed her ( again, no), and has the thought of picking up a piece of dog poo ever seared my child’s brain stem?

Again, no, never!

If you get a pet for your child, it’s very likely that you – the mum – will end up being the primary carer and, when your child heads off to travel the world with his/her mates, chances are you’ll be left with the dog. That’s life.

However, I still believe kids and pets go hand in hand together, especially kids and dogs.

I think most of you reading this will agree that kids who have pets make for better, more humane adults. Having a pet teaches the child to have responsibility for another living creature, and creates a bond between them and the animal.

In addition, a pet will also create empathy and raise the child’s self-es-

M

teem. Why? This is because a pet gives unconditional love to a child; a pet will stabilise an unstable world for a child, because no matter what else is going on, a dog still needs walking, feeding and grooming – it’s part of its day-to-day routine.

Routine is important to a child; it makes them feel safe, and pets force us to maintain a routine, helping the entire family structure to be more balanced.

It doesn’t have to be a dog – a goldfish swimming around in a tank can teach children the responsibility of feeding, cleaning and caring.

However, the key to enjoying the most satisfying relationship with your pet is choosing one that suits your lifestyle.

It’s very easy for your child to fall in love with a cutie-pie puppy or a fluffy kitten, but the realities are that different sets of responsibilities fall with different types of pets.

In order to help you make the right choice of pet for your family, I’ve set out a few points for you to consider.

• Families with small children or an elderly relative living with them should consider the size and energy levels of the pet.

If it’s a puppy or a kitten, it will be very active – however, it will also be delicate, and needs to be handled with extreme care.

On the other hand, a large and energetic dog can accidentally harm a small child or an adult who is unsteady on their feet by knocking them over.

• If the home environment is one of total neatness; then you need to expect muddy footprints as well as accidents and hairs from a free-roaming animal.

Therefore, a longhaired dog may not be your best choice. Maybe your best bet is a pet which is confined to quarters, such as fish, birds, or a turtle.

• With certain pets, your garden will suffer.

Dogs will dig holes, urinate and poo.

• If you’re a bit of a home bird, and spend most of your time at home, consider a pet that is happy with such an environment. What about a cat, a rabbit or a bird?

• However, if you’re

an active type of family who enjoys daily walks or loves to jog, then a dog could be your best friend.

Also, there is a social element to dog-walking.

It encourages interaction with others.

• You need to decide just how much time you have to give to a pet.

Keep in mind you are making a commitment that will last for approximately 12 to as much as 20 years if you get a cat or a dog.

My eldest dog is 18. If you get something like a parrot – well, they live up to 70 years, sometimes 80!

Here are some examples of different types of dogs, and how they could suit you and your

As adorable as Rover is, your even more adorable child(ren) may not be the best at tending to his needs, so you should think long and hard about the best kind of pet to suit your family’s life and habits

family.

• A sporty dog: Retriever, Labrador, Spaniel.

Very active, alert, like to be around people, so they’re social animals.

• Terriers: Jack Russell, Wheaton, Fox. Tenacious and brave little guys, and very determined. My “ladies” love to dig, dig and dig again.

They are quite determined and feisty, and this makes them a challenge to train. However, they’re extremely loyal, but can be a bit intoler-

ant of boisterous children.

• Wo r k i n g d o g s : Doberman, Newfoundland, Boxer. Strongwilled, independent, may be physically overpowering; small children and the elderly should be aware of this exuberance.

• Toy dogs: Chihuahua, Yorkie. Companion lapdogs, but still need exercise.

They’re fragile and can easily get crushed under people’s feet; so take

care when having them around a toddler.

They’re loyal and intelligent, and love learning tricks.

All dog breeds must be kept under effective control and exercised regularly. For further information, contact your vet or professional dog trainer.

For more information, log onto www.dspca. ie or contact your vet or email me at miriam.kerins@dspca.ie

18 GAZETTE 14 June 2012

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods

REVIEW: ROWLAND’S WANDERERS BRIDGE 27-YEAR GAP

The burning never ends for Dexys’ soul brothers I ROB HEIGH

FORGET the diamond jubilee, diamond geezer Paul McCartney turns 70 on Monday, June 18, and to say that the former Beatle is still going strong is a bit of an understatement.

Fresh from closing the show at the queen’s diamond jubilee concert in London recently, Macca is gearing up to rock the English capital once again: this time at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.

However not everyone thinks he can do no wrong. McCartney came under fire for his vocal performance at the queen’s bash, while others gave him stick for not playing Hey Jude.

Macca’s hit back by saying he’s saving the Beatles’ anthem for the Olympics’ concert and didn’t want to play the same tune to the masses in the same city at gigs that are just weeks apart.

Fair enough, there ARE enough Beatles’ songs to go round, people! Maybe if Elizabeth was called Judy things’d be different but hey, (ob-la-di, ob-la-da), life goes on.

If you do watch McCartney at the opening ceremony on July 27 (he’ll be closing the show once again) then you’ll be in good company: four billion people are expected to tune in and they’ll see him perform Hey Jude and another song which hasn’t been named as yet.

Carry That Weight for the torchbearers maybe? Or Day Tripper for the rubbish athletes? Even with his vocals getting a bashing, there’s no denying the fact that he’s a living legend with five decades of musical genius behind him who still packs more punch than many of today’s newer artists.

Which is why I was surprised to hear The Beatles’ museum in Hamburg is closing down. The reason? Lack of interest! George Harrison once said All Things Must Pass. It’s a sad day when that includes Beatlemania.

ANYONE with any interest in soul music would be able to pick out at will the finest moments from the genre with ease. Otis Redding, Al Green, Geno Washington... all legends, all immortal.

But in the realm of soul from these isles, there would appear to be a very short roll of classic names that spring to mind.

Taking the influences of his youth — his Irish roots, his love of soul and northern soul and a burning passion to express himself musically — Kevin Rowland helped to create one of the most recognisable and influential bands of the eighties, Dexy’s Midnight Runners.

The Irish connection has always been present in Dexy’s music, and Rowland’s search for national identity — Dance Stance’s rebellious stomp, on almost all of Too-RyeAy, and most obviously on Knowledge of Beauty from Don’t Stand... — should put Dexys on a considerable pedestal in Ireland, an expression of exiled Irishness to rank alongside The Pogues as one of the finest products of the British diaspora.

The Dexys line-up includes original members Jimmy Paterson, Kevin Rowland, Pete Williams and Mick Talbot, and viola player Lucy Morgan, proving that 27 years between releases need not diminish their genius

But the misapprehension of their Celtic soul brothers-look, the caricature that the immense success of Come On Eileen created, and the criminal undermining of their 1985 release, Don’t Stand Me Down, led to Dexy’s falling off the cultural radar, and their potential was eroded, leading to the break-up of the band and a number of lost years for Rowland.

The band were reinvigorated by their 2003 tour – an unforgettable night at Vicar Street included

You can call me Paul: Graceland reissued ahead of Dublin date THE legendary Paul Simon and his equally

legendary Graceland album are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the record’s release this month in 1986.

To salute the groundbreaking album, Simon returns to Dublin for two nights at the O2 arena on July 12 and 13, with some of the original African musicians set to join him on stage.

In addition, the album is getting a deluxe re-release, with the CD accompanied by a DVD of Under African Skies, a feature length film which chronicles the creation and lasting influence of Simon’s iconic record.

— but it has taken until now for Rowland to reunite integral members from throughout the band’s classic line-ups — Big Jimmy Paterson on trombone, Mick Talbot on keys, Pete Williams on joint vocal duties — as well as a roll call of other fine musicians to record One Day I’m Going To Soar.

Rowland has seldom been in better voice, effortlessly adding his unique croon to the silky layered and smooth instrumental backing that accompanies each

track. The musical motifs and progressions that appear on opening track, Now, reappear elsewhere throughout the record.

Which, combined with the lyric book for the record — the life and love of Mr Rowland — make this as close to a concept album as Dexys have ever come.

As ever, there is a sense of the confessional and a rare streak of humour and theatricality that many people utterly missed about their past incarnations.

The romanticism and dynamism that the backing — from cafe jazz to Celtic soul — provides Rowland’s lyrics and singing with a perfect underpinning for what is aimed for in this endeavour, and make One Day I’m Going To Soar as good as anything the Midnight Runners ever committed to record.

It doesn’t surpass Don’t Stand Me Down — nothing ever could — but it comes close to its spirit, and is a very much more than welcome return.

14 June 2012 GAZETTE 19

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Graham McNevin, Project Architects

Clearing up some misconceptions

Graham McNevin and Ross Quinn

GRAHAM McNevin and Ross Quinn are associates with Project Architects and have worked in their Dublin office for over 10 years.

Project Architects is an award-winning design focused architects’ practice formed in 1996 to build upon the expertise and experience of the former group established in 1976.

The practice, which employs a core of approximately 15 professional, technical and

support staff from its two offices in Dublin and Cork, has a diverse range of experience in all aspects of architecture, design, planning and infrastructural development.

Talking about the public’s view of architects, Graham says: “The biggest misconception out there is that an architect costs you money. The actual reality is that involving a registered architect at an early stage will save you time and money

and maximise your projects potential.

“I feel that most people don’t fully understand an architect’s role and therefore don’t realise what we can do for you. We have helped people receive finance from banks, funding from investors and grants from the various bodies. Residential, retail and sports clubs have all availed of our service.”

“We are trained professional designers who will lead you expertly

through the planning and building control process, ensuring that the requirements of the local authority are satisfied. We can oversee the construction of your project to better ensure completion on time, on budget and in compliance with legislation. And finally we can certify that your new home or extension is in compliance with Planning Permission and Building Regulations.”

Project Architects

will tailor their service to your financial requirements. Contact them for advice on your new project, large or small on 01-6796466.

Due to the high demand Project Architects are extending their free consultation to anyone who contacts them before August 31, 2012.

Project Architects have just launched their brand new website: www.projectarchitects.ie

Quinnsworth television advertisement.

Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: A crisp £20 note Q: When did you start your present job?

A: 15 years ago Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: Seeing a vision become a reality for a client

Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?

A: None I am very hands on Q: What sport do you follow?

Q – What’s the latest on getting access to money in pensions ? I have a private pension with a sizeable amount of money that I could now well use.

Is there any hope of extrapolating these funds ?

Barry – Cork Street A – Mary Mitchell-O’Connor, the Fine Gael TD, recently proposed a question in the Dail to give access to those with Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) before retirement.

Currently if you have an occupational AVC, you can only access it at retirement age (minimum age 60) which could be some time away for those in their youth.

Implementation of same to access these funds could be some time away while access to the full pension before retirement has not even been mooted.

Clearly we are on a pension time bomb. Currently, there are 420,000 Irish nationals over the age of 65 – 767,000 by 2026 and a whopping 1.8m by 2051 – so there will be greater pressure on the workforce at the time to support the elderly.

In 2010 for every person who retired there were six workers. By 2051, there will be two workers. The state pension is currently € 230.30 per week and for over half the working population, this is the only money they will have when they retire.

But it still also makes sense to invest in a pension, even on 20% tax rate, for every € 100 invested, the fund would have to drop by 20% in the year before you actually lose on the investment.

On retirement, you can commute up to 25% of the fund (or € 200,000 whichever is the greater) as a tax free lump sum with a number of choices and options for investment of the balance.

Email me for a free article originally published in the Sunday Business Post entitled The Pension End Game. Therefore, Barry, I would hold off on cashing your pension and consider increasing your contributions to it instead.

Contact John with your money questions at

jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor

Q&A Q: What was your first job?

A: I was an extra in a

PENSION ACCESS

A: All, especially football

much to say lately though)

Q: What sport can you play?

A: Football and golf badly

Q: What was your last Tweet/status update?

A: Facebook status about a

Q: What is your guilty music/TV or movie pleasure?

A: Movies! Love anything with a twist!

Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward?

A: Combine the three Jednorward!! Scary thought

sports pavilion we have just completed in University of Limerick

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: Anything Thai Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna?

A: Again both would be an

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: Over 10 Q: What was your worst holiday experience?

A: When my flight had to turn back to Australia six hours after we had left

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: My honeymoon in Australia and Thailand

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: Irish football team man-

Q: What music/pictures/ movies do you have on your iPod/iPad? A: Kings of Leon, The Eagles

interesting episode of Come Dine With Me.

ager

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: Rio Ferdinand (hasn’t

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: Any gadget shop

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?

A: See the world

GOT A STORY? TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOCAL EVENT, CELEBRATION OR FUNCTION Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

20 GAZETTE 14 June 2012

GazettePROPERTY PROPERTY WE HAVE 135,000* READERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS

CALL 60 10 240 When dealing with a large-scale renovation, it’s crucial to get an in-depth insight into the process

www.

gazette

RENOVATIONS: KEEPING UP WITH THE COSTS IS KEY TO PLANNING RENOVAT

.com

Tender is the right group way to plan a build All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away

IF YOU are planning a new build or a renovation, you need to get to grips with the ins and outs of the tendering process if you want to make sure you are on top of your costings.

The tendering process or a Request for Tender (RFT) is a structured invitation where you, the home owner, invite building companies to give you a detailed quotation or cost estimate for a building job based on your plans and requirements which you have previously drawn up.

It is imperative that before you enter into the RFT process that you are decided and happy with your plans as all costings will be based on your plans and design requirements. The plan is the crucial part and it is vitally important that your budget is defined

up front and that you match your design to your budget. Bearing this in mind, there are three key steps to a successful plan.

1. Assess and design the area – know your access points, be aware of where you may need to relocate ser vices and plumbing as that will have an impact on cost.

2. Get plan drawn up by a professional. This should be well drafted, legible and logical.

Realistic in its design and matching your budget.

3. Your plan needs to be specified; the required materials from glazing, to kitchen cabinets, to light switches and sockets need to be defined up front and in detail.

Once your specifications are complete, you will send them out to the builders you have

selected, who will then price as per your specifications.

You will be getting quotations from several sources so it’s important that all involved have the same information.

Quality specification is crucial if you want an accurate tender.

Make sure you are 100% satisfied that what you need is on the costings the builders bring you back and that it matches your specifications.

If the documentation doesn’t match, you may find yourself in a situation where an element of the build may be removed from the project (as it wasn’t on the list the builder brought back) or, it could be added in later at an extra cost.

Once prices come in, you must then meet your builder. You could be entering into a three

of four month project and the building team will be onsite daily. You must be able to communicate with them.

Once you are close to making a decision, you need to go and look at prior work and talk to old customers.

But don’t let positive feedback sway you into making a decision, the quality of previous work will hopefully speak for itself.

When you come to the contracts stage ( d o n ’t a t t e m p t a ny work without contracts) ensure the fees for the Certificate of Compliance is included as part of the costings, as you will need this to sign off the completed build.

To get in touch with HSLC, find them online at www.hslc.ie or call Gerhard on 087 774 9470 or info@hslc.ie

14 June 2012 GAZETTE 21

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS

Edited by Cormac Curtis

RoadSigns Road Signs

SIGNIFICANT GROWTH FOR JAGUAR SALES

Citroen’s designers have gone to town on the DS5, crafting a car with more attention to detail and luxurious touches than you’d expect – but expect to be delighted

A head-turning motor CORMAC CURTIS

IT IS a rare and wonderful occasion when you get a taste of being a kid again – and a week spent with the new Citroen DS5 gave me just that sensation.

At first glance, I was captured by an elegance of design that is mixed with a downright brutishly low-slung stance that, coupled with the almost over-sized alloy wheels, reminded me of some kind of military vehicle.

Citroen have hit it clear out of the park with the DS5 – it has a staggering ability to turn heads.

From every angle, the exterior of this car is a design classic. But, more importantly, the interior has all the looks of a jet fighter’s cockpit, yet at the same time offers all the luxury that you could ever desire.

A beautiful blend of black and maroon leather adorned the seats and trim – the most attractive colour scheme of any car I have driven in recent years.

Every point of contact made me grin with satisfaction – just imagine a youngster on Jim’ll Fix It getting to live out a boyhood dream and you will get the idea!

The driver’s seat just

SPECS: CITROEN DS5 HDi 160bhp 6-speed manual 5-door Saloon Top speed: 215km/h 0 – 100km/hr: 8.5 sec CO2 emissions: 133gm/ km Tax Band: B – €225 Model driven priced from €36,400

seemed to wrap itself around me, preparing me for the joy of driving a very special motor.

The chunky steering wheel is wrapped in leather, boasts a flat bottom, brushed steel accents, and very useful controls for telephone, radio and cruise control.

The edges of the wheel offer attractive contrast stitching – a theme that continues throughout the car.

Under the driver’s left forearm, the “I drive”style system control for the sat nav and radio sits ahead of the brushed steel window control buttons.

Ahead of the gear shift, the centre console contains an array of chunky buttons and dials for climate control air con, heated seats etc. All of these controls have a solid, almost retro feel.

The video display for the on-board sat nav is

The Citroen DS5 interior: “The most attractive colour scheme of any car I have driven in recent years”

bright, easy to read and very accurate. The navigation system includes live traffic information and European maps.

Another feature of the video display is a reversing camera, which I found myself getting very attached to – especially as I manoeuvred this very substantial vehicle during the morning school run.

A lovely touch on the console is a beautifully designed analogue clock – something you don’t see too often in cars any more.

It may not be all that necessary, but like so many features of this car, it adds to the feeling that you are driving something just that little bit special.

Overhead is divided into three separate sunroof sections, or, as Citroen call them, “light wells”.

Each of these light wells is controlled individually by buttons in the roof console.

Also in this console are two drop-down containers for sunglasses, as well as a Citroen emergency call button – an impressive system that can alert emergency services, when activated.

It’s never certain how well the interior of a car will age, and the level of brushed steel and metallic accents here will require a little more attention than most to keep looking as elegant as they did leaving the showroom.

However, the build quality certainly felt very solid and very well put together. When I managed to drag my gaze away from the interior, I finally got driving.

The driver’s outlook reminded me of that of a car far sportier and stealthier – the outside road appears in a kind of panoramic mode, thanks to the wide, shallow windows that wrap around the cabin.

Sometimes, the view is a little compromised, but I found myself getting used to the unusual pillar positions very quickly – a small price to pay for the elegant design that is on display here.

In terms of perform-

ance, there was nothing to disappoint me here, either.

The model I was driving came with a 160bhp Hdi engine, coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox, and it had all the performance I needed.

At this level, it won’t break any speed records, but it was by no means underpowered – all in all, the power-to-weight ratio was bang on the money.

This kind of car doesn’t come around too often – and, with prices starting at around €32,500, it is not completely beyond the budget of someone looking for a car that will not only turn heads, but put a smile on your face every time you get in.

JAGUAR Land Rover Ireland has achieved significant growth in 2012, with combined sales of more than 800 vehicles up to the end of May – an increase of 39.7% versus the same period last year – encouraging growth, given that new car sales for the industry as a whole are down by 8.7%.

The sales increase is mainly owed to the response to the two award-winning models on offer from each brand – the Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel and the all-new Range Rover Evoque.

Gerard O’Farrell, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Ireland, said: “The increased demand for both Jaguar and Land Rover demonstrates the unique desirability and strength of our products.

“With pricing starting from €39,000 for the Range Rover Evoque, and €44,820 for the Jaguar XF, there has never been a better time to consider Jaguar and Land Rover.”

RENAULT’S JUNE SCRAPPAGE DEAL ALMOST a year after the Government scrapped scrappage, Renault has brought back a scrappage deal for June, where customers who buy a new Renault car and trade in their eight years or older vehicle will get an extra €1,500 on top of the current offer, and a five years’ unlimited mileage warranty.

Also for June, customers can avail of 0% APR finance offers from Renault Finance.

Renault Ireland pioneered scrappage. ie in late 2009 and saw their sales increase as a result of theirs, and the Government’s, scrappage scheme.

22 GAZETTE 14 June 2012

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Get some guaranteed sunshine with Wingsabroad Turkish holiday specials WINGSABROAD, the Turkish holiday specialist is offering some great deals this summer if you want guaranteed sunshine.

A stay at the three-star Melissa Apartments costs €359pps (self-catering and two sharing).

This includes return flights, seven nights’ accommodation. You will travel from Dublin or Cork on June 24 or June 25, from Shannon.

The next offer is a stay at another three-star resort, Sami Beach Hotel, (B and B basis).

Prices start at €399pps and include return flights and seven nights’ accommodation.

Travel on June 24 from Dublin or on June 25 from Shannon.

Another offer is the four-star Golden Day Wings (B and B basis) from €439pps (two sharing).

This includes return flights, seven nights’ accommodation. Leave on either June 24 from Dublin or Cork or on June 25 from Shannon.

You can stay at the four-star Coastlight Hotel on a B and B basis from €449pps (two sharing).

The price includes return flights, seven nights’ accommodation. Leave from Dublin or Cork on June 24 or from Shannon on June 25.

To stay at the three-star Summer Gardens on a self-catering basis will cost €419pps (two sharing), including return flights, seven nights’ accommodation as stated. Start out from Dublin on June 24 or from Shannon on June 25.

The final offer is to stay at the three-star Marbel Hotel (all-inclusive) from €559pps (two sharing) including return flights, seven nights’ accommodation. Travel on June 24 from Dublin or Cork or else June 25 from Shannon.

For more information or to book please visit www.wingsabroad.ie or call 01 8719444 or contact your local travel agent.

Edited by Mimi Murray

INDIA AND NEPAL: LAUNCH OF ESCORTED TOURS FOR BOTH COUNTRIES

Explore a little Eastern mystery I BAIRBRE NI

BHRAONAIN

F you’ve ever thought about making that daunting trek to Nepal or India but didn’t know where to start, here’s your chance to explore these two countries of Eastern mystery with an escort to lead the way for you.

Gohop.ie have just introduced an escorted tour of both countries which takes in all of their most important historical and religious sites.

Exotic stops on the tour begin with the Indian capital, New Delhi then on to Jaipur and Agra (home of the Taj Mahal).

From here you will go onto Jhansi and the medieval riverside town of Orchha which is filled with shrines and temples.

Next the tour heads to the UNESCO heritage site of Khajuraho where the temples are of the erotic kind and finally it reaches the spiritual heart of India as you fly to Varanasi.

The first stop of the tour is in Old Delhi. You will visit Jama Majid which is the largest mosque in India, take a rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk and visit Red Fort and Faj Ghat where the shrine

I

Bangla Sahib is the most prominent Sikh house of worship in New Delhi

and cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.

Next to New Delhi which is a modern, vibrant city with fine examples of Indo-Islamic architecture and the world’s tallest minaret at Qutab Minar.

It also has the India Gate; a war memorial arch and is the residence of India’s president and parliament.

The tour will next take you on to Jaipur where you will visit the magnificent Amber Fort.

Rajput is famous as a complex of palaces and pavilions, gardens and

You will enjoy a sunset visit to the spectacular Taj Mahal

temples.

You will truly feel like a prince or princess of the old Raj as you ascend a hilltop on a decorated elephant.

You will then have the option of seeing Jaipur from the sky in an early morning hot air balloon flight over the pink city.

Agra is famous for its marble and also for its intricate leather work.

You will enjoy a sunset visit to the spectacular Taj Mahal.

This white marble shrine to love was built over a period of 22 years

by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to house her mortal remains.

Orchha, or “hidden place” has ruins of the tiered Jahangir Mahal, a fine example of medieval Indo Islamic architecture decorated with paintings and frescoes done in the 17th century.

The Taj Mahal features more murals and frescoes depicting the life of Lord Rama and Krishna and incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Kathmandu is next on the tour where you will enjoy an early morning boat cruise on the Holy River Ganges.

On the Ganges you will see the “bathing ghats” where thousands of pilgrims pay homage to the Sun God by immersing themselves in the river.

Sarnath is the following place and it’s where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon.

You will then visit the 2500-year-old Swayambhunath Stupa.

This is one of the holiest and oldest Buddhist

chaityas in Nepal.

The tour will then head to Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, the historic seat of Nepalese royalty.

The Gohop escorted tours to India and Nepal run from June 1, 2012 until April 15, 2013.

You can book your tour of 11 nights by contacting www.gohop.ie and prices include 11 nights’ accommodation with half board, English speaking guides, entrance fees to sights, elephant ride, a boat ride in Varanasi and transportation via car.

Prices are €1,590per person sharing (pps) until September 30 2012 (ground only); €1,890pps until April 15, 2013 (ground only); €2,490pps until September 30 2012 (including flights) and €2,790pps until April 15, 2013 (including flights).

The return flights to Delhi, which will be priced on enquiry to ensure the best fares, and visas for India and Nepal are not included in the price.

14 June 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 23

24 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 June 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Travesties

FOLLOWING the hugely successful and popular Plaza Suite, Rough Magic are back at the Pavilion Theatre with the delicious comedy Travesties by Tom Stoppard.

Best-known as the author of the Oscar-winning film Shakespeare in Love and the plays Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Arcadia, Stoppard is at his best in this absurdly funny masterpiece featuring James Joyce, Vladimir Lenin and Dadaist Tristan Tzara. Running until June 23, tickets are priced from €18 to €25.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Bloomsday Celebration

THE Mill Theatre and Roly Saul’s presents a special Bloomsday Celebration Brunch to mark the 90th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses.

Join them in Roly Saul’s restaurant for a buffet brunch with fare inspired by Leopold Bloom’s breakfast, including a glass of burgundy. Brunch will be accompanied by theatrical readings from Ulysses read by actor Declan Brennan.

Sandra Oman (soprano) will perform Joycean songs including the famous, I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls, Bahnhofstrasse and She Weeps Over Rahoon (two poems written by Joyce). This event takes place on June 16 at 11.30am. Admission: €15

CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477

Anna (Felicity Jones) and Jacob (Anton Yelchin) share a tender moment under the covers

OPERA Theatre Company, Ireland’s National Touring Opera Company continues its 26th year of touring opera with this memorable and compelling work. OTC is delighted to welcome back founding member Ben Barnes, who directed the company’s first opera in 1986 and now returns to direct Orfeo. This event takes place on June 19 at 8pm.

Admission: €28 & €25 concession

A Crazy little thing

Monteverdi’s Orfeo

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622

John Colleary and Patrick McDonnell THIS is a unique opportunity to see two of Irelands finest stand up’s performing live together in one explosive show.

As well as starring in the The Savage Eye, John Colleary is a writer and performer of Today FM comedy slot, Last Orders. As well as The Savage Eye, Patrick has created memorable characters in Naked Camera and of course Father Ted. This show takes place on June 15 at 8.15pm.

Admission €16.

GOT A STORY? Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

A Sundance favourite, Like Crazy never made it to Irish cinemas. Be thankful for the second chance the DVD gives.

I PAUL HOSFORD

SUNDANCE, the indie film festival, has a chequered hit ratio in recent years.

For every Precious in recent times, there has been a Hamlet 2, which sold for $10 million dollars and made less than half that at the US box office.

With that in mind, the viewing public has become somewhat weary of the Sundance seal of approval, even given 2010’s spectacular performance, when Academy Awards rained down on Sundance picks.

One film that came out of the 2011 festival highly tipped was Like Crazy, but this intimate depiction of a long-distance relationship never found a home in Irish cinemas, due mainly to a complete lack of buzz on this side of the pond.

It can be hard to sell to most audiences a trip to a

FILM OF THE WEEK: Like Crazy #### (15) 90 mins Director: Drake Doremus Starring: Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Alex Kingston, Charlie Bewley

OUR VERDICT:

INSPIRED by director Doremus’ legal battles to get his ex-wife an American work visa, Like Crazy is an immediate, raw and close to the bone examination of relationships and distance, both physical and emotional. Occassionaly beautiful and always assured, it is a film that will stay with you beyond its 90 minutes.

film that cost less than a two-bedroom apartment in Monasterevin. Well, pre-crash anyway.

Shot on a handheld Canon EOS 7D for less than $250,000, Like Crazy tells the story of two LA college students, British rose Anna and California furniture designer Jacob.

Refreshingly, there is no meet-cute. Nothing contrived happens to bring them together.

There is merely a note on a windshield and a tentative phonecall.

From there, the two fall madly in love and, with the school year due to end, Anna makes the

fateful decision to stay for the summer, in direct contravention of her student visa.

Flying home for a wedding, she is forced to spend a few months in Blighty away from her love in LA. Upon trying to re-enter the States, however, she falls foul of immigration.

That leaves the couple with no choice but to split. Their lives are too disparate, too separate to overcome the time and space differences.

What follows is a fouryear journey through getting back together, visits to London, new partners,

engagements and constant legal battles.

This not an heroic, triumph over-the-odds story, however. This a cutting insight into two desperately flawed characters that, at times, you just want to shake.

This is, for this reviewer, the film’s biggest single achievement.

The idea that you have to fully like characters has always stuck in my craw, not that I know what a craw is.

For me, the premise is flawed. Unlikable characters, akin to unlikable people, are often fascinating.

The idea that otherwise good people would make bad choices through stubbornness, poor communication or insecurity is not bad storytelling, it is a fact of life.

W hen Anna reads Jacob’s text messages and sees communications with an ex, some will see a completely unlikeable

character, borne of black and white.

But, what Doremus has actually done is create a character of greys.

Someone driven to distraction by the thought that their partner has a life 5,500 miles away that she may never know.

Devoting all of your screen time to two characters, either together or separately takes immense faith.

Giving them flaws so obvious and exposed, is fearless.

The film is weighted brilliantly on the shoulders of Felicity Jones, as Anna and Anton Yelchin, as Jacob.

Newcomer Jones is the standout, however. She shows a deftness and subtlety that many actresses her age lack and it is no wonder she bagged the Sundance award for breakthrough performance, showing that not all Sundance recommendations are bad.

14 June 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Camera is sure to be snapped up

Using television’s Game of Thrones as an example of providing supplementary info over your smartphone for your favourite TV shows, Marc Whitten, head of Microsoft’s XBox Live division, demonstrated how its SmartGlass service aims to underline the company’s drive to master the home entertainment hub

Weee love E3’s show I SHANE DILLON

THE greatest show in town, the annual E3 sees games developers, publishers, marketeers, icons, gurus, journalists, fans and many more gather in Los Angeles for a look at what to expect in the gaming (and tech) world over the next 12 months.

It’s the biggest international such event for anyone and everyone, and, while there can be dull E3s just as easily as exceptional ones, they’re always worth paying attention to.

As always, it’s the games and players that don’t attend E3 that set

tongues a-wagging, and this year was no different.

For example, while nobody was remotely surprised that there wasn’t so much as a whisker of Grand Theft Auto V on show – frankly, GTA developer Rockstar are too big to stoop to the biggest games show in the world, and never show their wares – it was the non-showing of other notable titles that raised eyebrows.

Sony’s long-delayed The Last Guardian, for instance, once again failed to make a showing for the PlayStation 3.

On the other hand,

Sony wowed crowds with stunning gameplay from a number of PS3 titles, with The Last Of Us setting an apparent benchmark in mature gaming and graphics – just one of a number of heavy-hitting PS3-exclusive titles on show.

Nintendo, too, impressed, as people finally got to see what its upcoming console – the Wii U – is capable of.

Given the breathtaking fiscal losses posted

by Nintendo in the past year, the Wii U really had to impress, and especially when considering its somewhat head-scratching concept of a giant

controller that’s also kind of a tablet display screen and, errr, um ...

However, its capabilities became much clearer for those that picked it up and tried it out, clearly making the Wii U one to watch when the innovative console releases.

Of course, Microsoft wasn’t going to let its rivals steal the show, and, in addition to a number of hefty gaming announcements, its main one concerned “SmartGlass”.

This, it seems, fits the company’s goal of unifying home entertainment in a one-stop-shop, such that, for example, your standard smartphone/

tablet could have innovative uses to tie in to a number of home entertainment hubs.

In this way, your phone/tablet could, say, provide extra uses for your games, or control your TV, or provide supplementary information about your favourite show, and so on.

All this, and much, much more was on show at E3. Despite the difficult economic times we’re all facing - as well as gamers around the world - E3 showed that, as always, the gaming and tech worlds have an awful lot to look forward to in the coming 12 months.

Anotherweebyte...

Techies won’t be impressed – but many readers will buy this back-to-basics phone FOR all of their ever-increasing power, there’s just one thing about mobile phones that companies rarely, if ever, want to talk about – the fact that an awful lot of phone users have absolutely no interest in almost all of what their phones can do.

One such group are older citizens.

Personal experience, and anecdoctal evidence, suggests that many older people couldn’t care less about apps, Wifi functionality, and so on – they simply want to be able to make and receive calls, send occasional texts, perhaps use picture messaging, – but

that’s about all.

Step forward Vodafone, and its exclusively available emporia CLICK – a stripped-back flipscreen mobile phone with few “unecessary” bells and whistles, yet with a number of interesting, and useful functions.

It’s a streamlined, somewhat basic phone – however, these are also its strengths, as its chunky and tactile buttons, scalable screen font sizes, emergency access to key numbers, and other such functions go against the grain of what the average mobile phone does – and makes the emporia

CLICK all the better for it.

I can see how it will appeal to many phone owners looking for a phone that’s, well, just a phone, rather than an all-singing, toocomplicated “all-in-one entertainment system”. Certainly, I have older relatives who’re looking for exactly this kind of just-a-phone phone.

The emporia CLICK is available at Vodafone stores, priced from €79.99, though special offers (eg number switching) may apply.

AS I’M looking at some of the latest tech this week, whether in gaming terms or hardware, it’s a good time to point out that Sony are rolling out another top-notch camera soon (July), ready to continue blurring the lines between “amateur” and “professional” camera models.

Space prevents me from going into all the details of the highly-impressive new Cyber-shot RX100 (right), but the basics are anything but basic, and will greatly impress any other photographers out there.

For instance, with an effective sensor resolution of 20.2 megapixels, courtesy of its special Exmor CMOS sensor; 3.6x optical zoom with its F1.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens; a maximum ISO of 25600; 1,229k dot resolution for its 7.5cm Xtra Fine LCD screen; new WhiteMagic technology that uses white pixels in addition to RGB – well, there’s a long, long list of features that will be complete gibberish to non-enthusiasts, but make the Cyber-shot RX100 very impressive indeed.

It’s a great addition to Sony’s already top-notch Cyber-shot line, and is sure to be snapped up once it hits the shops.

GAZETTE

26 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 June 2012

SWORDSclassifieds

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PLANNING NOTICE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

CARPENTRY

DENTAL

I, Ken Murphy, intend to apply for planning permission for development at this site address: 30 Lissadel Crescent, Malahide, Co. Dublin. The development will consist of an extension to the existing house comprising 17.8msq additional floor area at first floor level above the existing garage, and associated works to extend the existing roof including a new solar water heating panel on the existing roof pitch facing Lissadel Crescent.

The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during the public opening hours of 9.30 - 16.30 Monday - Friday at Fingal County Council, Fingal County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of the prescribed fee (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application.

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GazetteSPORT

AMERICAN DREAM: College matches set to light up Parnell and Donnybrook: Page 29

SOCCER: FAI SUMMER SCHOOLS SET TO KEEP THE EURO 2012 BUZZ ALIVE AT CAMPS

Super summer soccer schools set to sizzle sport@gazettegroup.com

WITH only days left to avail of the early booking discount for Dublin players, the FAI are urging future Irish internationals to follow up their interest in the Euros with the eFlow FAI Summer Schools this summer.

An estimated 4,000 budding soccer stars are due to sign up to one of the 55 designated schools which will commence on July 1.

The FAI’s discount offer will come to a close on June 15, so children from the age of six to teenagers of up to 14-years-old need to register as soon as they can to keep the Euro 2012 buzz going throughout the summer.

These week-long soccer schools are open to boys and girls of all abilities and, with three different camps on offer, including girls-only and goalkeeper camps, there is plenty of choice for all levels of abil-

ity and experience.

All of the camps will be overseen by FAI-accredited coaches who can provide an opportunity for children to learn new skills, develop existing skills, have fun and benefit from the guidance of some of Ireland’s best soccer coaches.

On the first day of camp, each participant will receive a full kit, a football and a backpack.

Encouraging local Dublin soccer players to sign-

Local soccer star Stephen Ward and friend promote the eFlow FAI Summer Schools at the Aviva Stadium

up, Portmarnock native and Irish international player, Stephen Ward, who himself participated in the soccer schools as a young player, said: “I participated in the camps when I was a kid and not only did it help

me to improve as a player, it was also great fun during the summer holidays.

“With 55 Dublin clubs hosting camps, the fully qualified coaches will help young talent to develop and improve their soccer

skills in a fun and interesting way.

As an additional bonus and to mark the beginning of the 2012 eFlow FAI Summer Soccer Schools, eFlow is offering free jersey personalisation to the

first 200 eFlow customers who book their place at any of the camps around the country.

For further information on the camps and to book a place, visit www.summersoccerschools.ie or

28 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 June 2012

GazetteSport Sport

Aisling O’Kelly, Evelyn Sweeney, and Anna McGrea

Olivia O’Toole and Niamh Reid Burke

Olympics The Olympic flame burns on in Dublin ISTORY was made as Dublin partook in the Olympic torch relay.

Handed to Michael Carruth by Wayne McCullough at the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It made its way down to Dublin where it was formally received by president Michael D Higgins.

The torch then went on its trip around the city carried by many notable Irish athletes and celebrities making its way to the city centre. When it arrived at its final destination at St Stephen’s Green, it was welcomed by a huge crowd and a joyous celebration ceremony.

Paul McGrath

Niamh Reid Burke from ITB

Kenneth Egan

H

Kenneth Egan, Sonia O’Sullivan and Mayor of Fingal, Gerry Maguire

Harry Ryan, left, Tess Jennings, and Jordan O’Connor

14 June 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 29

Friday night lights coming to Dublin

FastSport

American football is coming to the city in force this summer, and Notre Dame v Navy is not Bike week events set the only attraction on offer, writes ROB HEIGH to re-cycle family fun IT’S no understatement to say that there is nothing like an American Football match to illustrate all the passion, the glamour and the commitment to sporting endeavour in one single event.

From the pitch to the rafters, there is a unique buzz that cannot be found in any other sport in the world.

For a seemingly privileged few who get pitchside at the NFL matches we see on TV, they experience one of the most exciting, involving and intense sports played just within their reach.

But, in a few short weeks, the thrill of American Football is coming to local pitches in Dublin. On the weekend of August 31, there will be a celebration of the sport in Parnell Park and Donnybrook Stadium, with 12 top-class US high school and NCA A Division

III college teams taking part in a Friday Night Lights event never before attempted in the city, ahead of the main event of the weekend, the regular season game between Notre Dame and Navy at the Aviva Stadium.

The double-headers

on hand to find out more about the tournament.

“I’ve brought Division 3 college sides over to Ireland to play one-off matches before, but when I saw the date of the Notre Dame v Navy game, a light went off in my head,” said Steenberge, an enthusias-

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘We wanted to make the event as accessible as possible.

Anyone who loves sport can come with their whole family.’

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

here in Dublin, and in Pairc Tailteann in Navan, are the culmination of a plan set in motion by Notre Dame football legend, Patrick Steenberge.

Steenberge and his partners in setting up the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) American football event were in Dublin last week, and GazetteSport was

tic icon of the athletic programme at Notre Dame and founder of Global Football, who have been taking American Football out to the wider world for many years now.

“The Notre Dame and Navy game is happening right at the start of our football season. I started calling some people, and there was a great interest

in getting this tournament organised.

“I thought I would have four college teams travelling, which would have been fine, but more and more wanted to come, which means we can have these three-double headers in three great venues.”

Steenberge was clear about what impact he hopes bringing the games to local venues will have.

“Putting the sport on people’s doorsteps was very important to us. Playing in Navan, at Donnybrook and in Parnell Park is critical to that. If we had stuck to our original plan, we would have been playing at RDS, UCD and Donnybrook. But we realised that was only one neighbourhood we would be reaching.

“So, by playing at these venues and making the prices affordable for people was a key to making this event accessible and

Irish American Football Association Chairman Greg Loughran (centre left) presents Patrick Steenberge with an Ireland shirt, flanked by Brian Mullins of UCD (left) and Regis Scafe, head coach of John Carroll University (right)

as inclusive as possible.

“There is six hours of entertainment on offer, and the people who come along will get to understand that there is more to American Football than the top-level NFLtype matches. In the US, American Football is accessible to all people in local communities, and we wanted to do that here as well.

“Anyone who loves sport can come out with their whole families, and see home high-level competition. It’s not NFL or Division 1 college football, but it is very competitive and a lot of fun.”

Speaking at the event, the Irish American Football Association president, Greg Loughran, said: “We are hoping that there will be a lot of buzz about the matches taking place later this summer, from the Notre Dame and Navy game all the way through to these college matches.

“We hope that the event will mean that there will be a lot more people getting interested in American Football, which we hope to pick up on, and let people see what we are doing about bringing people into playing the game in Ireland.

“We have an U-13 and U-15 travelling to Holland for the European championships this year, which is a huge step for American Football in Ireland.”

For more information, see www.americanfootball.ie and www.gift2012. com

IRELAND’S annual Bike Week is taking place from June 16 to 24. A variety of cycling and awareness-raising events are being organised including a fun family 6km cycle from Marlay Park on June 23 at 3pm.

This free event is organised by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for families and any age or fitness level.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend, but places are limited, so pre-registration is essential. There will also be a goodie bag, highviz vest and refreshments at the finish line for all who take part.

The route starts at Marlay Park, down to Grange Road and along a new urban cycle route towards Dundrum Shopping Centre and back for refreshments and goodies.

According to Shane McArdle, coordinator of DLRSP: “This event will be a great way for families to get out cycling during Bike Week along a safe route that avoids traffic.”

To register your interest for this event and get a full list of the activities taking place in the County during Bike Week, contact DLRCC at 01-2047026 or fgill@dlrcoco.ie.

DLRSP are keen to promote cycling as a cheap, reliable, fast mode of transport which they say: “Keeps you feeling fit and healthy, and has huge environmental benefits. So, dust down your bike and beat the traffic for Bike Week 2012”.

Artists sought for Horse Show contest THE Dublin Horse Show is offering one lucky primary school student the chance to win a family season pass to the show if they can create a poster for the renowned equestrian event.

19 runners-up will receive a one-

day family pass for Saturday, August 18, and the winning artworks will be featured on the official Dublin Horse Show website.

2012 will be the 139th running of the show, which takes place from August 15 to 19.

For more information on the Dublin Horse Show and the competition, see www.dublinhorseshow.com

30 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 June 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

SOCCER: CELTIC’S UNDERAGE SIDES PROGRESS IN 2011/12

Cluskey forced to bow out of Challenger SWORDS man James Cluskey was forced to withdraw from the Furth Challenger event in Germany, putting the brakes on his recent excellent form on the doubles circuit.

Moving up from ITF Futures events to the higher Challenger level of tennis competition, Cluskey reached the quarter-final in Ostrava and the final four in Athens when playing with France’s Fabrice Martin.

He added a couple of wins at the Poland F1 Futures in Sobota, playing with South Africa’s Jean Andersen with victory over Chilean Guillermo Hormazabal and Colombia’s Sebastian Serrano and the pairing of Grzegorz Panfil and Denis Matsketvitch in straight sets.

The results have lifted the 25 year-old up to his highest ever position in the world’s doubles rankings, making it to 254.

He dropped back five places, though, after being forced to withdraw from playing last week. He moves to Martos in Spain this week for the next event on his calendar.

Swords RFC holding preseason session

day, and for more information, contact Richie on 087 821 9742, or email info@ swordsrfc.com.

Swords Rugby Club are holding a pre-season get-together on June 30 at ALSAA at 2pm when they will introduce new coaches Ivan O’Kelly and Richard Cowman, as well as fitness guru Mat Corbett, to the senior playing staff.

The day is intended to get all the players together as the new season hoves into view and hold a light training session.

All current players are asked to come along on the

Swords Celtic summer camp announced THE annual Swords Celtic summer camp takes place this year between July 3 to 6, running each day from 10am to 3pm and offers a mix of football coaching and fun.

The camp is for kids aged between seven and 14 years old, and costs €55.

To book your place, contact Carolyn on 086 385 7245.

Swords Celtic had another hugely impressive season, with their underage structure delivering positive returns at all levels

Swords’ season’s successes I sport@gazettegroup.com

THE 2011/2012 season was very successful for Swords Celtic, from unbeaten runs to AllIreland campaigns as well as a very successful non-competitive season for the U-8s to U-10s.

With the U-8s playing the first season under the new system, five-aside football played over half a pitch, the budding players got the feel for the ball and enjoyed a healthy environment as a platform to progress without the stress of competition.

While the U-9s and U-10s both participat-

ed in non-competitive leagues, they also relished competition with the introduction of the cups with two of the U-9 teams reaching the semi-finals and Steve O’Riordan’s U-10s reaching the final.

Juan Diaz U-11 outfit, playing nine-a-side football, had a very impressive season, finishing fourth and just four points behind the newly crowned champions.

Eddie Darcy’s U-12s were stand-outs in their pursuit of the All-Ireland title, eventually losing out to St Kevin’s in the quarter-finals, after grabbing the league and cup

Sisters are doing it: Megan and Bronwyn take the double double FINGALLIANS’ Athletics Club’s Megan and Bronwyn Keogh were in action at the Dublin Track and Field Championships at Santry and Tallaght Track last week.

The duo kept it in the family when they claimed their respective doubles, winning the 100m and 200m titles in the Under-19 girls and Under-17 girls categories respectively.

double.

S t e p h e n K i r w i n ’s U-13s finished second in the league, and will look forward to testing themselves on the premier platform next year, while the 14As will be hungry for more after a solid mid-table finish.

Ray Birch’s U-16 Premiers took third in their league campaign and also reached the semi-final of their cup, and proved they are a team with a lot of promise that can look forward to another successful year next season.

Joe Murray and Joe Heller are sure to be proud of their U-17 Premier side, who went

unbeaten on their way to being crowned champions of their league, their only loss coming at the hands of Ashbourne who saw them out of the cup by a narrow margin of 2-1.

The 18Bs had consolidated season, finishing mid-table, while next season hangs in the balance for the Premiers under Paul Darcy, who will play off for second place against Balbriggan.

Carolyn Darcy, secretary for Swords Celtic, shared her thoughts on the season with GazetteSport: “We had an amazing turnout this year, we started the campaign

with 31 teams and as a community club, that’s really what we want to be doing.

“There were successes on the field that made for a good season and the non competitive aspect for the younger kids was especially beneficial to their growth as players, just getting a feel for the ball and enjoying themselves.

“We almost had three teams in all the 11-aside age groups and that shows how much commitment the community have for our football club and we’re looking forward to getting going again.”

14 June 2012 SWORDS GAZETTE 31

HURLING: GOOD SHOWING BODES WELL FOR SEASON

CLUB NOTICEBOARD FINGALLIANS Euro 2012: The club will be showing the

to 28 and is for those aged between 13

Ireland v Spain match on Thursday

and 16. The coaching throughout the

evening at 7.45pm. Children will be wel-

week will be carried out by a number

come, but must be off the premises 30

of Dublin hurlers. For further infor-

minutes after the game concludes.

mation, contact simon.lambert.gpo.

The nursery on a Saturday morning

Order now from the bar: Leinster

23. There will be nursery on that day,

senior hurling semi-final, June 23 at

and the nursery will re-commence in

O’Moore Park, Portlaoise: Kilkenny v

September.

Dublin at 5pm. Stand - €25, Terrace

Fins TV: Our new TV network caught

- €15; Family tickets: one adult and

up with Amy McGuinness touring Can-

two juveniles, etc. Stand - Adults €25,

ada last week with the Ladies Football

juveniles €5 each. Terrace - Adults €15,

All-Stars - check it out on www.fin-

juveniles €3 each.

gallians.com

G.C. on June 15 with tee times from

camps (hurling and football) will take

3.30 to 4.40pm. The timesheet still has

place on July 22 and 23 in the club bar.

a couple of slots available. Please con-

The cost per child is €30 for members,

tact the club bar for availability.

and €50 for non-members. For fur-

Our ladies’ section are currently

ther information, contact Nicky or

raffling two Lower Cusack tickets to

Simon.

see Westlife at the end of the month.

Excellence will take place from June 25

Syl’s pipped despite top performance DUBLIN IHC St Sylvester’s Whitehall

1-13 0-17

I sport@gazettegroup.com

S T S Y LV E S T E R ’ S intermediate hurlers were disappointed not to prosper with points from their encounter with W hitehall last week when the visitors to Broomfield came away with a win in the narrowest of margins.

The home side were disappointed not to claim at least the draw after one of what they felt was their best displays of the season thus far against a very strong Whitehall team.

The game proved to be an intense battle, with the lead changing hands frequently as the sides went point for point throughout.

Whitehall moved into the lead in the first half, but a late Des Lehane goal and point brought Sylvester’s level at the break.

The home side started the second half with a determination that saw them take the lead for a long time in the second half, and points from Ormonde, Stephen Keogh, Alan Morris and Andrew R ichardson gave them a three-point lead.

However, the influe n t i a l D ave K e o g h had to withdraw from the game with a hand injury, which allowed Whitehall back into the game. They reeled off five points in a row to lead by two points going into overtime.

Morris was able to pull one back, Martin pointed from the half way line to draw the sides level, but Whitehall were awarded a free off the puck-out which they scored to win the match by a solitary point.

The good crowd who gathered to watch the match agreed that this was the side’s best showing thus far, and the

stage is set for this side to take confidence from a good showing against top-class opposition.

Elsewhere in the small-ball code, Sylvester’s seem set for a place in the quarter-final of the junior C championship after a similarly close finish against Naomh Fionnbarra at Broomfield last weekend.

Dave Kennedy was assured in goals and the Kirrane brothers formed a good half-back partnership, well assisted by Eoin McClafferty.

Although up by six

points at the break, the Sylvester’s juniors were pegged back early in the second half when Naomh Fionnbarra scored a goal from the restart.

However, Syl’s were never caught and they maintained their advantage right to the last-minute of the match when a last gasp point by Greg Hannon ensured victory.

Scorers were Hannon (1-2), Colm O’Connor, Derek Roche, Kevin McLoughney and Colm Byrne (0-2 each) and Jody Hickey (0-1).

Our next golf outing is in Castleknock

Registration for the club summer

The Simon Lambert Hurling School of

St Sylvester’s intermediate hurlers just fell short of victory against Whitehall last week

dublin@gaa.ie

will break up for the summer on July

Tickets only available from the bar at €5 each.

FINGAL RAVENS BEST of luck to our senior team who

are reminded that they should bring

play Naomh Mearnog in the senior

the defibrillator from the clubhouse

championship in the Naul this week.

to the pitch for all matches and

Our Division 10 team play St Margaret’s in Rolestown next Sunday at 3pm.

Our annual cycle race will take place on Monday, June 25 at 7pm

training sessions.

If any mangers and mentors from any teams need training on the use of the defibrillator, please contact Ann Fox on 086 177 1027.

from the clubhouse. All members,

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 13, 14,

adult and juvenile are asked to par-

16 and 20. There was no jackpot win-

ticipate; sponsorship cards will be

ner. €20 to Ian Donnelly, Greg Hyde

available this week from John McCa-

and Angela Kinsella.

rthy or Alan Manning.

Managers and mentors of all teams

Next week’s jackpot is now worth €3,945.

ST FINIAN’S The executive committee extends

June 23 and we will also be having a

deepest sympathies to the Eras-

sponsored 24-hour cycle which will

mus and Merriman families at the

finish at 5pm on the day.

time of their sad loss of Thomas

Sponsor ship car ds ar e being

Erasmus. Ar dheis De go raibh a

given to each team, please ensure

anam uasail.

that they are completed before the

Our adult intermediate football-

day of the cycle.

ers beat St Brigid’s and drew with

The Summer Camp dates have

St Pat’s Donabate in the Loving Cup

been published, and entry forms

last week.

can be found in the Downloads sec-

Our Under-14 footballers had a big win against Kilmacud. Otherwise, it was a quiet week for fixtures.

Yoga by Einear’s next meeting is on Tuesday, June 19 at 8.15pm, with Ali showing relaxation and meditation techniques.

The club fun day is planned for

tion of our website.

The Club Lotto Jackpot was €5,300.

The numbers drawn were 2, 13, 19 and 21, and there was no winner.

The €50 winners were Doreen Robinson and Michael Kelly.

N e x t w e e k ’s j a c k p o t w i l l b e €5,400.

Follow GazetteSport on Facebook and Twitter and online at www.gazettegroup.com

ALL OF YOUR SWORDS SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

SEASON’S GREETINGS: Swords Celtic reflect on 2011/12 successes P30

JUNE 14, 2012

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Top American college football coming to town P29

GazetteSPORT

Local star Lynne Cantwell was one of the Ireland ladies who have brought the side to the verge of qualification for the 2013 World Cup Sevens in Moscow

Cantwell assists ladies to top tier

Swords rugby star on fine form as sevens side reach final stage of World Cup qualifying tournament in Ghent swordssport@gazettegroup.com

SWORDS woman Lynne Cantwell was part of the Ireland Women’s Sevens squad who took a major step on the road to qualification for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens with a dominant performance at the European Championship qualifying tournament in Ghent over the weekend.

New to the Sevens scene, and playing against several higher-ranked countries, the Irish girls won the title without conceding a point in six games.

The tournament was the first-round qualifier for the Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow next year, and the team needed to finish in the top two to progress to the final qualifying tournament at the beginning of July.

The Ireland women topped their group having had comprehensive wins over Czech Republic, Belgium, Poland and Israel in the pool games. Having defeated Georgia 51-0, they then progressed to meet Scotland in the final.

The final proved to be an exciting game and the girls in green certainly had the support of the home

crowd. Captain Claire Molloy opened the scoring in the second minute, having received an offload from Joy Neville after a scintillating burst through the centre of Scottish defence by Jenny Murphy.

The Scots retained possession for the next number of minutes; however, Ireland turned the ball over at the breakdown and Jeannette Feighery, having shown a dummy, made a break down the blindside from the halfway line to score in the corner.

Ireland showed great line speed and continued to pressurise the Scots when they had possession but were strong in attack when they had ball in hand. Two tries from Alison Miller saw Ireland go into the second half with a 22-0 advantage.

The Irish girls resumed with great determination and continued to be dominant at the breakdown.

The bench was deployed minutes into the second half and the substitutes made an immediate impact.

Ashleigh Baxter made a massive tackle and turned over the ball, resulting in Sophie Spence powering through the Scottish defence and crash-

ing over the line to make the score 29-0, with Claire Keohane successfully converting the try.

Speaking about the tournament, head coach Jon Skurr said: “I am extremely happy with the girls’ performance here this weekend.

“We set ourselves a goal at the beginning of this programme to qualify for Moscow, and recently set ourselves a target of winning this tournament which we have been successful in.

“The determination, commitment and skill level of the players must be commended and to go through a tournament with no points conceded is very impressive. We’ll now look forward to Moscow and hopefully continue with the success that the ladies have achieved so far.”

The team scored an impressive 249 points in the Ghent tournament and conceded none which is something that skipper Molloy was very pleased with.

“Our defence has been an area that we have worked very hard on over the last number of weeks at training and it is great to come away from the tournament with a clean sheet,” she said.